Pete Domenici: “I will soon have been here 34 years. That is not very long compared to the man about whom I rise to say a few words. I…”

“I will soon have been here 34 years. That is not very long compared to the man about whom I rise to say a few words. I understand this was the day. I was in my office and, having heard the eloquence that was spoken today to my good friend, Senator Byrd, I figured that I couldn't do him justice just coming down at this very moment, as I am. But everybody knows why we speak today when we attempt to honor him for his devotion to his colleagues, to the institution, to the Constitution, and to the United States of America. The distinguished Senator knows what each of us thinks of him. He knows, better than we each do, what we think of him. He could tell me what Pete Domenici thinks about Bob Byrd, and probably be close to right. And vice versa. He has occasionally spoken about what he thinks of me. I don't think he takes it lightly. I think what he says he means. He has been far too generous in what he has said. But I will choose, among all the things, for just a moment, to say what I think mostly about him, as I think about his time here and revere it. First, there is something about learning to appreciate what the Senate is as a place, as a house, as an institution. Woe be it any man or woman who is elected to this place and who serves for any length of time and doesn't feel it, doesn't understand it, doesn't quite grasp what a rare place this Senate is. It is hard to say why it is. One could talk about the men and women who made it like this.…”